Device for preventing reusing of bottles.



R. R. HOLBROOK.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING REUSING 0F BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1915.

1 1 5 1,102. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

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JIITTORIIEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH SO-,WASHINIITON, D- (u UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRJQIIIFEv R. HOLBROOK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRIDS'TO HARRY E.

' MARSHALL, 0F HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING REUSING 0F BOTTLES.

Application filed May 8, 1915.

To all ulzonl it may come r11 Be it known that I, Roms R. HOLBROOK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne,State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inDevices for Preventing Reusing of Bottles, and declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to a device for preventing the re-using ofbottles after the contents have once been emptied.

In the drawings,Figure l is a vertical section of a bottle neck and thenon-re-use device. Fig. :2 is a vertical section of the bottle neck andthe non-reuse device, showing how the parts operate when the bottle iscanted. Fig. 3' is an elevation of the shell of the device. Fig. 4 is aperspective of the cork gasket. Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the clipsthat hold the non-reuse device in place. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of thenonre-use device showing how one arm and one recess are offset from thetrue quarter point.

The shell a is preferably made of porcelain although it may be made ofblocked tin or such other suitable material as will not taint theliquid. The top of the shell is provided with an annular flange b toprevent its being dropped or forced down below the internal rib c in theneckof the bottle. The shell-a is provided with a plurality oflongitudinal slots (Z that extend upwardly from the bottom about halfthe height of the shell. One of these slots (see Fig. 6) is offset fromwhat would be the quarter point, where four slots are used. Similarly,the spindle e of the plug or valve is provided with a plurality ofradially extending arms f, one ofwhich is offset from the quarter pointas shown in Fig. 6. The consequence of this arrangement is that the armswill only enter the slots when the arms are at one certain position inthe whole 360 degrees in which they may be turned. If the four armswere'all equally spaced as also the slots, it is apparent that therewould be four positions in the 360 in which the arms could enter theslots. This arrangement has a distinct relation to the possibility ofagain lifting the spindle in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 19:15.

Serial No. 26,701.

guide slots of the bottle, as will be herein-v after explained.

The spindle e is preferably made of porcelain or blocked tin to preventtainting of liquids. Its upper end enlarges into an inverted cone on thetop of which is located a calf-skin washer g. I have, by the way, foundthat a calf-skin is one of the very few suitable washers for thispurpose, as unlike rubber and similar substances, it will not taint theliquids nor will it dry or crack, while at the same time it affords avery suitable gasket and holds the cork it normally in the positionshown in Fig. 1, that is, loosely resting on the top of the shell a. Thetop of the spindle 6 ends in a pointed stem i upon which can be impaledthecork h. The cap. 7' having a perforation at its top, is adapted tofitover the cork andbe crimped under the flange b of the shell a. It may bemade of pressed paper, blocked tin or some similar material which willnot affect the contents of the bottle. A gasket of cork in the form of aring, slips over the lower end of the shelland fits under the annularflange of the shell. Hence when the device is seated in the neck of thebottle this cork engages with the rib, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,. tomake the connection liquid-tight.

A couple of spring clips Z, as shown in Fig. 5, each provided with aprojecting shoulder portion and an inturned upper portion can be used tolock the device from be ing withdrawn from the neck of the bottle. Theinturned upper portion engages in a recess in the cork and shell. Itwill readily be understood that when the device is forced down into thebottle the inclined lower ends. of the clips allow them to pass theinternal rib 0 of the bottle neck, but that as soon as the shoulders, ofthe clips have passed the lower side of the rib, they will immediatelysnap thereunder and prevent its ever being withdrawn under ordinarycircumstances. These clips are heavily block-tinned or nickel-plated.

The operation of this device is as follows: The distiller or othermanufacturer first fills the bottle, then the non-re-use device isinserted in the neck of the bottle by forcing it inwardly therein untilthe shoulders of the clips Z snap under the annular rib 0. The device isnow in place and cannot be withdrawn under ordinary circumstances. Whenthe bottle is canted, as shown in Fi 2, the contents will flow out underthe ordinary check valve principle. When it is attemptedto re-fill thebottle, standing in the position shown in Fig. 1,'it will readily beseen that the cork will. rest upon the top orifice of the shell byreason of being supported by. the washer g. In this position the washer'9 will sufficiently seal the orifice of by a rare chance that they canagain be brought to register with the slots-so the cork can be shakenout. Of course iili It was possible to get a grip on the cork, it wouldnot be a'great deal of trouble to turn the plug around'until finally theone point inthe 360 where the arms register with the slots was secured.However, by merely shaking and that is the only wayopen to endeavor 'tomake the arms register with the slots there is only a remote possibilityof getting the plug to jar out again. Hence with the plug drawn into theshell and the washer r pressed tightly against the wall of the ori-'fice of the shell, little or none of-the contents will come out when thebottle is canted, for the only pressure urging the contents out is theirweight, and there will be scarcely any place for air to get in to get"atmosphericpressure behind the contents. Hence nothing more than a fewdrops will come out" notwithstanding unusual ellorts by shaking; any oneattempts to lift "the cork by sticking 'a-hat-l'iin thereinto, after thearms have droppedbelow the bottom of the shell and gotten out'ofregistry with the slots, the cork will pull otF'from the top of thespindle d before the plug can be put into place by endeavoring'toexercise force enough to break off the arms.

lVhat I claim is: v

1. A device of the class described, having in combination, a shell,meanslfor securing the same in a. bottle neck, a cap engaging with thetop of the shell, the said shell. be ing provided with a plurality ofslots extending longitudinally upward from the bottom of the shell, thesaid slots being arranged so that some of the slots are unequallydistant from each other, and a plug engaging in the cap and shell andprovided w thradlally extending arms gulded 1n the sa1d slots, the saidarms'belng arranged to correspond with the unequal spacing of the slots,substantially as described.

24in a device of the class described, the combination of a shell havinglongitudinal slots extending upwardly from the bot-v tom and a flange onthe upper end of the shell, a cap fitting under the flange of the shell,some of the slots of thesaid shellbeing' arranged so as to be unequallyspaced -from each other, and aplug engaging in the shell and cap andprovidedat its lower end with radial arms some of which-are unequallyspaced to correspond with the spac ing of the slots in the shell,substantially as described. 1

A device of the class specified, having in combination, ashell providedwith longitudinal slots extending inwardly from the bottom thereof,ai'cap engaging with the. top of the shell, some of the said slots inthe shell beingunequally spaced, a plug engaging in the shell and capand comprising a spindle portion having in its lower end radial armssome of which are unequally spaced to correspond with the spacing of theslotsin the shell, the said spindle enlarging toward its upper end, aflexible washer on the top of such enlargement, and a cork fitted uponthe top of the washer and secured to the said spindle. e

In a device of the class specified, the combination of a shell providedwith slots extending longitudinally inward from the bottom thereof, acap interlocked with the top of the shell, a plug engagingin the shelland cap and couu'n'ising a spindle having radial arms engaging with theslots of the shell, the said spindle enlarging toward the top andforming a shoulder between the-enlargement and a stem extensiomaflexible washer fitting over this shoulder for engag- Witness:

STUART C. BARNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Y -llvasl'iington, 13. G.

